Warriors learn from NBA's best

Jorge L. Ortiz, OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, May 6, 1999

OAKLAND - Though it was officially Fan Appreciation Night on Wednesday at the Arena, it seemed the Warriors were actually holding their version of Senior Night, waving farewell to some of the players who will "graduate" on to other places next year.

Despite their unexpected improvement this year, the Warriors no doubt realize the need for an influx of young players to continue the turnaround from one of the NBA's doormats to a club with renewed respectability.

So the season-ending 88-81 loss to San Antonio - which assured the Spurs the homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs - almost certainly marked the final game as Warriors for free agents to-be Muggsy Bogues, Felton Spencer and Tony Delk, and perhaps also for Terry Cummings.

The first two became expendable backups, while Delk - though only 25 - dropped out of the team's plans halfway through the season and spent the rest of the year rooted to the bench.

Cummings is another story. If ever a 38-year-old could have raised his stock, Cummings is the one. His contributions as a scorer off the bench and a sage presence in the locker room were so valuable, he might find several interested suitors this offseason, including some much closer to contending for a championship than the Warriors.

The team has already let Cummings know it would like him to return, and even went out of its way to reward him with a sendoff at the end of Wednesday's finale. Coach P.J. Carlesimo called Cummings back to the bench with 47.5 seconds left as a crowd of 17,235 showered him with a loud ovation.

The gesture certainly did nothing to dissuade Cummings from his stated desire to return next season.

"I would say my No. 1 priority would be to come back here if it works out for the organization," said Cummings, who would like to play two more years. "They gave me an opportunity to do what I do. I don't just mean basketball-wise, but the whole package of what I bring."

Part of that package is the advice Cummings dispenses to his teammates, from knowledge accumulated over 17 NBA seasons. The 6-foot-9 center / power forward bestows most of that wisdom on his fellow big men, and there's one in particular the Warriors would like to have back listening to it.

Center Erick Dampier closed out his third season with another so-so outing, a seven-point, 11-rebound night that typified his disappointing year. However, he won't turn 25 until July and is the Warriors' only legitimate alternative in the middle, given the scant prospects in the free agent market and the draft.

Much to the Warriors' relief, Dampier has maintained all along he would like to re-sign with them, even though he'll still test the waters as a free agent.

"I still feel the same," said Dampier, who plans to spend most of the summer in the Bay Area. "Come July 1st (when teams can start making their offers), we'll see what happens. The Warriors are going to have the first chance to step up to the plate, and we'll go from there."

Having endured the agony of a 19-win season last year, Bogues and Spencer were heartened by the improvement to a 21-29 record over a shortened schedule. Both expressed an interest in wearing blue and gold again, unlikely as it might be.

"I enjoyed the organization, the coaching staff, the community," said Bogues, a fan favorite in his two years as a Warrior. "They're headed in a good direction. But if they don't bring me back, it's been fun and that's cool."

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NOTES: David Robinson had 23 points and 20 rebounds as San Antonio (37-13), which led by 14 points early in the game, recovered from a Warriors comeback and put them away behind Tim Duncan's unstoppable offense (28 points) in the final four minutes. . . . Antawn Jamison led the Warriors with 22 points and 16 rebounds, the eighth time he has paced the team in scoring. . . . Golden State finished 13-12 at the Arena, its first winning mark at home in three years.&lt;

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